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One-size does not fit all: tailored ICT strategies for rural mathematics education
Get PDFHSRC Policy Brief, JuneThis policy brief addresses the challenge of integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into mathematics education within schools in South Africa's rural communities. Despite substantial government investment, many schools still lack access to ICT infrastructure, hindering effective ICT usage in teaching and learning, specifically in mathematics. The lack of ICT availability and skills contributes to low technology usage by educators, as well as limited access to ICT resources for learners. To address this issue, tailored ICT integration plans for mathematics in rural communities are recommended. A 'one-size-fits-all' approach is ineffective due to rural schools' diverse needs and contexts across provinces. Key recommendations include revising the ICT infrastructure allocation system, providing qualified Information Technology (IT) technicians or
training for current educators, specialised ICT training for mathematics educators and developing ICT resources in local languages, made available on an easily accessible database. By implementing these recommendations, South Africa can enhance ICT access and integration in rural schools, thereby improving the quality of mathematics education.N/
National Food and Nutrition Security Survey: Eastern Cape Province report
Get PDFThis report is based on the empirical evidence collected from selected Small Area Layers (SALs) within the five districts of the Eastern Cape province. SAL is the smallest geographical unit usually allocated to a single enumerator during census enumeration. In other words, it constitutes a small piece of land for an enumerator to cover to administer a questionnaire during a census or study (Statistics South Africa). Each of the SALs in this survey had 35 visiting points (households). The results provide a baseline assessment of the status quo of food and nutrition security in the province. The data was collected within the data was collected more than 8 months after the COVID-19 lockdown measures, a period characterized by much more relaxed restrictive COVID-19 measures. This greatly influenced and changed the picture from what would ordinarily obtain under a normal situation. Whilst this research project has benefited from the valuable insights and input of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) that provided comments and reviewed the final research report, the ultimate responsibility for the contents therein (including but not limited to unintentional errors, inaccuracies, or omissions) rests with the authors and researchers involved. Users of this research should exercise their judgment and discretion when
interpreting the findings and recommendations presented herein.
Towards a sociology of global south youth: navigating material differences and false binaries
No full textIn this chapter we argue that we need to take seriously that youth, as a sociological category, is not only constituted by life-course status and intersectional aspects of identity like race, class and gender, but also by place. One construct that we find particularly useful for exploring how historically constituted conditions differentiate young people's lives geographically, is the notion of the global south. Rather than understanding the global south primarily as a geographical region, it is better conceived as a historically forged political category, interpolated in the second half of the twentieth century, roughly referring to- but not quite commensurate with- parts of the world that were colonized. While former colonies differ from one another and the north-south binary is clearly false, material differences do exist on a global scale and can be described at a national and regional level, with implications for place-based characteristics of young people's lives. Circumstances that characterise the countries global south youth inhabit include increased population density, more limited access to income, other resources and support from the state, but higher rates of violence and inequality. In the final section of the chapter we outline a theoretical approach of navigational capacities that focuses on elements that characterise the lives of global south youth, with increasing relevance for young people everywhere. The concept of navigation allows for a framework that transcends the individual-social divide, looking at how young people deal with the here and now and exert agency through their imagined futures.
Every vote counts: a case study of accessibility in the DRC elections
No full textOn 20 December 2023, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) held general elections. The HSRC Africa Institute of South Africa is committed to contributing towards knowledge generation of African democratic and electoral processes. In line with this goal, representatives from the institute embarked on an election observation mission to the DRC in La Gombe, downtown Kinshasa. In this report, we share some key challenges identified during the elections. This article focuses on the experiences of people who are differently physically abled, especially in the case of DRC, where the impact of several polio outbreaks is apparent.N/
Women rise: rebuilding rural livelihoods post-COVID-19
No full textIn rural South Africa, the well-being of communities is deeply rooted in connections - family bonds, village relations and links to urban areas. According to researcher Leslie Bank of the HSRC, these are not just
threads but lifelines. "It's the relationships between people - the mutuality, the connectedness between women - that allow resources to be distributed," he says. During the COVID-19 lockdown, many of these ties were broken. Co-led by Bank, the Women Rise post-pandemic recovery and reconstruction project is using participatory research to reveal women's experiences of COVID-19 in rural areas and to support their efforts to rebuild their
lives and livelihoods.N/
People living with HIV's perspectives of acceptability of fee for home delivery of ART: a qualitative study
No full textSignificant progress has been made in the HIV response in South Africa; however, gaps remain in ensuring engagement in care to support life-long medication adherence and viral suppression. The National Department of Health (NDoH) has introduced community-based and clinic-based HIV differentiated service delivery (DSD) models to tackle suboptimal adherence and retention in care. Nevertheless, differentiated care models require adaptation to better serve clients who struggle with adherence. There is limited research on the acceptability of fee for home delivery of ART in resource-constrained settings. The current study investigates the acceptability of fee for home delivery of ART among people living with HIV in South Africa.
"Respecting one another does not work here": migrant men constructing masculinities in an informal urban settlement in South Africa
No full textThe discourse on masculinities mainly focuses on men's power over women and more emphasis should be geared towards understanding how the dynamics are changing, especially in the context of high levels of poverty. This study relied on qualitative interviews to examine dominant notions of masculinity among a sample of young migrant men residing in an informal urban settlement in Durban, South Africa. The interviews suggest that men face a multitude of challenges. In the informal settlement, toxic notions of masculinity are adopted by men that are demonstrated by their use of violence, denoting their power and authority. This study highlights the importance of incorporating men into multidisciplinary research in an effort to understand and combat widespread acts of violence inflicted by men.
Couples motivational interviewing with mobile breathalysers to reduce alcohol use in South Africa: a pilot randomised controlled trial of Masibambisane
Get PDFHeavy alcohol use among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa can hinder the success of HIV treatment programmes, impacting progress towards United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS goals. Primary partners can provide critical forms of social support to reduce heavy drinking and could be
included in motivational interviewing (MI) interventions to address heavy drinking; however, few studies have evaluated MI interventions for couples living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a couple-based MI intervention with mobile breathalyser technology to reduce heavy alcohol use and improve HIV treatment outcomes among HIV-affected couples in South Africa.
Measuring people's views on health system performance: design and development of the People's Voice Survey
No full textThe PVS is a rapid population-representative survey that aims to inform action toward more effective and people-centered health systems and promote health system accountability to populations. It can assess public sentiment on factors like confidence and trust in the health system among the full adult population
in each country, including recent users of health services as in patient experience surveys, but also past and future users. This allows policymakers to understand how well the health system is serving the entire population in addition to specific age or disease groups.
Democratic Republic of the Congo, presidential, parliamentary, provincial and municipal elections 20 December 2023: AISA election observation mission report
Get PDFCommissioned by the Democratic Republic of Congo, DecemberThe Human Science Research Council (HSRC) Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) Election Observation Mission (EOM) report highlights a complex electoral landscape marked by historical challenges and international scrutiny. Previous elections, notably those in 2018, faced criticism and internal hurdles yet the international community accepted the outcomes in the interest of stability. Despite concerns expressed by Bintou Keita the head of the United Nations (UN) mission regarding suboptimal conditions in the December 2018 elections, the DRC witnessed a delicate interplay
of domestic and international pressures in responding to a legitimacy crisis. The 2023 elections, amalgamating national, provincial, and local councils, marked a significant milestone by extending voting rights to the diaspora, allowing citizens from South Africa, the United States, France, and Belgium to participate. The AISA Election Observation Mission's (EOM} comprehensive analysis identified key challenges in the 2023 elections. These challenges encompassed inadequate infrastructure and accessibility at polling stations, particularly in La Gombe, raising concerns about inclusivity for individuals with disabilities and the elderly. Additionally, the voter registration period witnessed difficulties, including long queues in the conflict-ridden eastern DRC, alleged irregularities, closure of registration centres, uneven distribution of enrolment machines, and shortages of voting kits. Communication breakdowns by The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) officials led to frustration among voters, and
technical and operational challenges on election day included user-unfriendly voting procedures, insufficient ballot secrecy guarantees, technical glitches, and malfunctions of voting devices.N/